Originally Posted by
dbakl
I believe Brandt is talking about a wheel that simply has the rim replaced; spokes stay on the hub in the same position as already stressed. Basically you loosen the spokes, tape the new rim next to the old and transfer spokes to the new rim in the same positions.
I guarantee if you respoke a wheel with completely removed spokes going into new positions with new stresses you'll suffer many breaking...
You aren't putting any more or less stress on a spoke if you reuse it. As long as the spoke was used in a properly built wheel, you can reuse them. What you are saying is that for some reason, the spoke has fatigued, but that this fatigue will only show when placed on a new hub. This is not so. In a properly built wheel, the spoke will not fatigue, it will be just as strong as the day you laced it originally, unless some damage has occurred.
I'm glad you can guarantee my wheels will have many broken spokes. Can you tell me when I can expect this to happen? So far, not one broken spoke on the wheels I am using now. I have occasionally taken my wheels apart and put back together. I find it much easier to really clean the hubs and spokes this way. I don't do this often. Just when cleaning the wheels and I just can't get them very clean. I don't number the spokes so that they will go back on the hub in the same place. Hell, I don't even separate them into trailing or leading spokes, drive side or non-drive side. Well, except for the shorter drive side on rear wheels.